The Torah portion is Qorach, Numbers 16:1-18:32. In synagogues using the Triennial system, 5781 is year 2 and the Torah reading is Numbers 16:20-17:24.
Qorach, Dathan and Abiram and their followers rebel against Moses, saying that all people are equally holy and complaining about their new status, free but wandering the Wilderness. Qorach, Dathan and Abiram and their families are swallowed up by the earth and a fire consumed their followers. Others who continue to rebel suffered a plague. Lays out the duties of Aaron's descendants (the kohanim, that is, priests) and the other members of the tribe of Levi and the offerings that they will keep for this duty, but the tribe of Levi will not have its own territory in the Promised Land like the other tribes.The haftarah is I Samuel 11:14-12:22. Speaks of Samuel's inauguration of Saul as King. It connects to the Torah portion because it speaks of G-d making Moses and Aaron leaders of the People and of people going astray and being punished for it, like Korach, Dathan and Abiram and followers.